Design of distant retrograde orbits based on a higher order analytical solution

Abstract

Because the distant retrograde orbits dynamics inherently depends on special functions, approximate analytical solutions in the literature are commonly constrained to providing rough approximations of the qualitative behavior. We rely on perturbation methods and succeed in computing a higher order analytical solution that extends the range of applicability of previous solutions to the problem of relative, quasi-satellite orbits with large librations. Besides, the analytical solution provides two design parameters that are effectively used in the computation of periodic, distant retrograde orbits without constraining to the typical 1:1 resonance.